{"id":8152321425645,"title":"How to Explain Coding to a Grownup","handle":"how-to-explain-coding-to-a-grownup","description":"\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ruth-spiro\"\u003eRuth Spiro\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/teresa-martinez\"\u003eTeresa Martínez\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe best-selling author of the Baby Loves Science series levels up with this playful STEM picture book introducing kids—and grown-ups—to the coding world.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrown-ups do NOT have all the answers! In this tongue-in-cheek guide, an in-the-know narrator instructs kid readers in the fine art of explaining coding to a grown-up. Both children and their adults learn the basics of coding, including hardware, software, algorithms, and debugging. Cleverly disguised “pro tips” suggest best practices for teaching any topic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFun and fact-filled, the How to Explain Science series will empower kid experts to explore complex scientific concepts with any grown-up who will listen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mimic-makers\"\u003eMimic Makers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/how-to-explain-coding-to-a-grownup-spread.jpg?v=1680527754\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/how-to-explain-coding-to-a-grownup-cover.jpg?v=1680527756\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/how-to-explain-coding-to-a-grownup-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1680527758\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/how-to-explain-science-series-activity-kit.pdf?v=1722432743\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Series Activity Kit\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/how-to-explain-coding-expert-certificate.pdf?v=1698340520\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Kid Expert Certificate and Badge\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRuth Spiro, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRuth Spiro is the author of the best-selling Baby Loves Science series, which has been praised for introducing \"big science to little minds with the skill of a neurosurgeon\" (Matthew Winner, \u003cem\u003eAll the Wonders\u003c\/em\u003e podcast). Ruth also wrote the Made by Maxine picture-book series. She speaks regularly at STEM and early-childhood conferences across the country.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/author-page\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Ruth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTeresa Martínez, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Teresa Martínez was a child, her family moved from a small town to the city. Drawing helped shy Teresa connect with the other kids at school. Now she connects with children across Mexico and around the world through the books she illustrates, including \u003cem\u003eMario and the Hole in the Sky; Again, Essie?; \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e Sing with Me: The Story of Selena Quintanilla.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/teresa-martinez\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Teresa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e National Public Radio 2023 Best Science Book for Kids\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrown-ups may not be the only audience for this simple explanation of how algorithms work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaking a confused-looking hipster parent firmly in hand, a child first points to all the computers around the house (“Pro Tip: When dealing with grown-ups, don’t jump into the complicated stuff too fast. Start with something they already know”). Next, the child leads the adult outside to make and follow step-by-step directions for getting to the park, deciding which playground equipment to use, and finally walking home. Along the way, concepts like conditionals and variables come into play in street maps and diagrams, and a literal bug stands in for the sort that programmers will inevitably need to find and solve. The lesson culminates in an actual sample of very simple code with labels that unpack each instruction…plus a pop quiz to lay out a decision tree for crossing the street, because if “your grown-up can explain it, that shows they understand it!” That goes for kids, too—and though Spiro doesn’t take the logical next step and furnish leads to actual manuals, young (and not so young) fledgling coders will find plenty of good ones around, such as Get Coding! (2017), published by Candlewick, or Rachel Ziter’s Coding From Scratch (2018).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lighthearted first look at an increasingly useful skill. (glossary)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNewsflash: according to this book's narrator, grown-ups need things explained to them by kids. The narrator explains to her hapless parent (and the readers) that computers serve multiple purposes: solving problems, helping learn new things, or just to be used for entertainment. This title, part of the author's How To Explain Science series, aims to answer the questions of what coding is, why it is important, and what do coders do. Told in a tongue-in-cheek style, the narrator explains such terms as central processing unit, motherboard, algorithm, and random access memory. Sprinkled throughout the book are Pro Tips which suggest the best practices for teaching a topic to the grown-ups. The narrator uses the scenario of deciding whether to use a slide or swing at the playground to illustrate an algorithm. The illustrations depict a smart, savvy, female kid and a confused dad trying to absorb the information. The back matter includes a glossary of twelve terms used in the story. A must for any tech-minded kid, or those looking for a humorous STEM-themed read-aloud.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-318-1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 4–8\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e8 x 10\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2023-05-04T09:23:31-04:00","created_at":"2023-04-03T13:05:01-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 3-6","Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Nonfiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Life Lessons \u0026 Skills","Browse by Subject_Science \u0026 Nature"],"price":1799,"price_min":1799,"price_max":1799,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":44044256641261,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"43181","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":38671596257517,"product_id":8152321425645,"position":1,"created_at":"2023-04-03T13:08:47-04:00","updated_at":"2023-04-03T13:08:48-04:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":745,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgemoves.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/how-to-explain-coding-to-a-grownup-cover.jpg?v=1680541728","variant_ids":[44044256641261]},"available":true,"name":"How to Explain Coding to a Grownup - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1799,"weight":369,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":8,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-1-62354-318-1","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":31266839593197,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.805,"height":745,"width":600,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgemoves.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/how-to-explain-coding-to-a-grownup-cover.jpg?v=1680541728"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/charlesbridgemoves.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/how-to-explain-coding-to-a-grownup-cover.jpg?v=1680541728"],"featured_image":"\/\/charlesbridgemoves.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/how-to-explain-coding-to-a-grownup-cover.jpg?v=1680541728","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":31266839593197,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.805,"height":745,"width":600,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgemoves.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/how-to-explain-coding-to-a-grownup-cover.jpg?v=1680541728"},"aspect_ratio":0.805,"height":745,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/charlesbridgemoves.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/how-to-explain-coding-to-a-grownup-cover.jpg?v=1680541728","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ruth-spiro\"\u003eRuth Spiro\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/teresa-martinez\"\u003eTeresa Martínez\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe best-selling author of the Baby Loves Science series levels up with this playful STEM picture book introducing kids—and grown-ups—to the coding world.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrown-ups do NOT have all the answers! In this tongue-in-cheek guide, an in-the-know narrator instructs kid readers in the fine art of explaining coding to a grown-up. Both children and their adults learn the basics of coding, including hardware, software, algorithms, and debugging. Cleverly disguised “pro tips” suggest best practices for teaching any topic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFun and fact-filled, the How to Explain Science series will empower kid experts to explore complex scientific concepts with any grown-up who will listen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mimic-makers\"\u003eMimic Makers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/how-to-explain-coding-to-a-grownup-spread.jpg?v=1680527754\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/how-to-explain-coding-to-a-grownup-cover.jpg?v=1680527756\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/how-to-explain-coding-to-a-grownup-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1680527758\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/how-to-explain-science-series-activity-kit.pdf?v=1722432743\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Series Activity Kit\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/how-to-explain-coding-expert-certificate.pdf?v=1698340520\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Kid Expert Certificate and Badge\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRuth Spiro, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRuth Spiro is the author of the best-selling Baby Loves Science series, which has been praised for introducing \"big science to little minds with the skill of a neurosurgeon\" (Matthew Winner, \u003cem\u003eAll the Wonders\u003c\/em\u003e podcast). Ruth also wrote the Made by Maxine picture-book series. She speaks regularly at STEM and early-childhood conferences across the country.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/author-page\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Ruth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTeresa Martínez, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Teresa Martínez was a child, her family moved from a small town to the city. Drawing helped shy Teresa connect with the other kids at school. Now she connects with children across Mexico and around the world through the books she illustrates, including \u003cem\u003eMario and the Hole in the Sky; Again, Essie?; \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e Sing with Me: The Story of Selena Quintanilla.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/teresa-martinez\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Teresa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e National Public Radio 2023 Best Science Book for Kids\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrown-ups may not be the only audience for this simple explanation of how algorithms work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaking a confused-looking hipster parent firmly in hand, a child first points to all the computers around the house (“Pro Tip: When dealing with grown-ups, don’t jump into the complicated stuff too fast. Start with something they already know”). Next, the child leads the adult outside to make and follow step-by-step directions for getting to the park, deciding which playground equipment to use, and finally walking home. Along the way, concepts like conditionals and variables come into play in street maps and diagrams, and a literal bug stands in for the sort that programmers will inevitably need to find and solve. The lesson culminates in an actual sample of very simple code with labels that unpack each instruction…plus a pop quiz to lay out a decision tree for crossing the street, because if “your grown-up can explain it, that shows they understand it!” That goes for kids, too—and though Spiro doesn’t take the logical next step and furnish leads to actual manuals, young (and not so young) fledgling coders will find plenty of good ones around, such as Get Coding! (2017), published by Candlewick, or Rachel Ziter’s Coding From Scratch (2018).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lighthearted first look at an increasingly useful skill. (glossary)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNewsflash: according to this book's narrator, grown-ups need things explained to them by kids. The narrator explains to her hapless parent (and the readers) that computers serve multiple purposes: solving problems, helping learn new things, or just to be used for entertainment. This title, part of the author's How To Explain Science series, aims to answer the questions of what coding is, why it is important, and what do coders do. Told in a tongue-in-cheek style, the narrator explains such terms as central processing unit, motherboard, algorithm, and random access memory. Sprinkled throughout the book are Pro Tips which suggest the best practices for teaching a topic to the grown-ups. The narrator uses the scenario of deciding whether to use a slide or swing at the playground to illustrate an algorithm. The illustrations depict a smart, savvy, female kid and a confused dad trying to absorb the information. The back matter includes a glossary of twelve terms used in the story. A must for any tech-minded kid, or those looking for a humorous STEM-themed read-aloud.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-318-1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 4–8\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e8 x 10\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}

How to Explain Coding to a Grownup


By: Ruth Spiro / Illustrated by: Teresa Martínez

The best-selling author of the Baby Loves Science series levels up with this playful STEM picture book introducing kids—and grown-ups—to the coding world.

Grown-ups do NOT have all the answers! In this tongue-in-cheek guide, an in-the-know narrator instructs kid readers in the fine art of explaining coding to a grown-up. Both children and their adults learn the basics of coding, including hardware, software, algorithms, and debugging. Cleverly disguised “pro tips” suggest best practices for teaching any topic.

Fun and fact-filled, the How to Explain Science series will empower kid experts to explore complex scientific concepts with any grown-up who will listen.

Maximum quantity available reached.

Ruth Spiro, author

Ruth Spiro is the author of the best-selling Baby Loves Science series, which has been praised for introducing "big science to little minds with the skill of a neurosurgeon" (Matthew Winner, All the Wonders podcast). Ruth also wrote the Made by Maxine picture-book series. She speaks regularly at STEM and early-childhood conferences across the country.

Read more about Ruth.


Teresa Martínez, illustrator

When Teresa Martínez was a child, her family moved from a small town to the city. Drawing helped shy Teresa connect with the other kids at school. Now she connects with children across Mexico and around the world through the books she illustrates, including Mario and the Hole in the Sky; Again, Essie?; and Sing with Me: The Story of Selena Quintanilla.

Read more about Teresa.

  • A National Public Radio 2023 Best Science Book for Kids

Kirkus Reviews

Grown-ups may not be the only audience for this simple explanation of how algorithms work.

Taking a confused-looking hipster parent firmly in hand, a child first points to all the computers around the house (“Pro Tip: When dealing with grown-ups, don’t jump into the complicated stuff too fast. Start with something they already know”). Next, the child leads the adult outside to make and follow step-by-step directions for getting to the park, deciding which playground equipment to use, and finally walking home. Along the way, concepts like conditionals and variables come into play in street maps and diagrams, and a literal bug stands in for the sort that programmers will inevitably need to find and solve. The lesson culminates in an actual sample of very simple code with labels that unpack each instruction…plus a pop quiz to lay out a decision tree for crossing the street, because if “your grown-up can explain it, that shows they understand it!” That goes for kids, too—and though Spiro doesn’t take the logical next step and furnish leads to actual manuals, young (and not so young) fledgling coders will find plenty of good ones around, such as Get Coding! (2017), published by Candlewick, or Rachel Ziter’s Coding From Scratch (2018).

A lighthearted first look at an increasingly useful skill. (glossary)

Children's Literature

Newsflash: according to this book's narrator, grown-ups need things explained to them by kids. The narrator explains to her hapless parent (and the readers) that computers serve multiple purposes: solving problems, helping learn new things, or just to be used for entertainment. This title, part of the author's How To Explain Science series, aims to answer the questions of what coding is, why it is important, and what do coders do. Told in a tongue-in-cheek style, the narrator explains such terms as central processing unit, motherboard, algorithm, and random access memory. Sprinkled throughout the book are Pro Tips which suggest the best practices for teaching a topic to the grown-ups. The narrator uses the scenario of deciding whether to use a slide or swing at the playground to illustrate an algorithm. The illustrations depict a smart, savvy, female kid and a confused dad trying to absorb the information. The back matter includes a glossary of twelve terms used in the story. A must for any tech-minded kid, or those looking for a humorous STEM-themed read-aloud.

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-318-1

Ages: 4–8
Page count: 32
8 x 10